Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex | Short Exam Notes

 Plays an important part in the play.

·         Story revolves around two different attempts to change the course of fate.

• Laius – Jocasta => attempts to kill Oedipus
• Oedipus => flight from Corinth later on.
• *in both the cases – Oracle’s prophecy comes true –regardless of actions.

·         The manner in which they (Oedipus – Jocasta) express their disbelief in oracles is ironic.

• Jocasta – “oracles are powerless” , the very next scene she goes to pray to the same powers.

·         Trust in God – Trust in intelligence.

• Oedipus trying to root out the truth, but irony,
• (oracles + Oedipus intelligence) = same outcome.
• *Jocasta says - “if he would have just left well enough alone, he would never have discovered the horrible workings of fate”
• *His intelligence is what makes him great, yet it is also what makes him tragic.

·         Sphinx Riddle – he himself is the answer.

·         BEST EXAMPLE – IRONY

The frequent use of references to eyes, sight, light and perception throughout.

“sight” – 2 meanings – Oedipus blessed with the gift of perception, but blind to the truth.

TEIRESIAS

• ·         Blind old man.
• ·         Foreshadows Oedipus’ own future.
• ·         The more Oedipus mocks his blindness, the more ironic he sounds to the audience.
• ·         Understands the truth without the use of his sight.
• ·         At the end, Oedipus becomes like Teiresias, who is blinded, but realizes the truth.
•       A pre-presentation of the Oedipus at the end.